Main CPGW Record
Surname: KAY
Forename(s): Francis John
Place of Birth: Sutton-in-Craven, Yorkshire
Service No: 265750
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 1/6th Battalion
Division: 49th (West Riding) Division
Age: 25
Date of Death: 1918-04-23
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: II. K. 8.
CWGC Cemetery: POPERINGHE NEW MILITARY CEMETERY
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: LOTHERSDALE, YORKSHIRE
Local War Memorial: SKIPTON, YORKSHIRE
Local War Memorial: SUTTON-IN-CRAVEN, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Francis John Kay was the son of William Golding and Mary Kay, née Tilford. William was born at Blackburn, Lancashire and Mary at Wetherby, Yorkshire. Francis was the cousin of Gunner Harry Kay (99645) (q.v.).
1901 Colne, Lancashire Census: 6, William Street - Francis J. Kay, aged 8 years, born Sutton, Yorkshire, son of William G. and Mary Kay.
1911 Lothersdale, Yorkshire Census: Whitting Hall Farm, High Fold - Francis Kay, aged 18 years, born Cowling, Yorkshire. [Francis was living with his sister, Eva, and brother-in-law, Frank N. Shuttleworth, Farmer, by whom he was employed.]
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Francis J. Kay, 265750, W. Rid. R.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Francis John Kay, 265750, 1/6 W. Rid. R. Killed Accidently [sic] 23.4.18.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Francis John Kay, 265750, 1/6th Bn W. Riding. Date and Place of Death: 23.4.18 Belgium. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Sister and sole legatee - Mrs. Annie Smith. £49 5s. 6d.
See also: ‘Guiseley Terriers: A Small Part in The Great War – A History of the 1/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment’ by Stephen Barber (2018).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
KAY, J., West Riding Regiment, aged 25, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Kay, Lascelles Hall, Skipton, killed April 23, 1918.
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Private Francis John KAY
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 49th (West Riding) Division
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Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
The family of William Golding and Mary Kay, née Tilford
Back row, left to right: Emily, Arthur, Annie, Joe, Alice, George, Eva. Front row, left to right: Rachel, William Golding, Mary, Francis
Courtesy of the Kay & Holden families
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
15 September 1916
ADDINGHAM [sic] – THE LATE PRIVATE W. R. SMITH
Sympathy to Mrs. Smith from the Lothersdale lads at the front is expressed in the following letter received last Tuesday morning:–
10th Platoon
‘C’ Company
Duke of Wellington Regiment
British Expeditionary Force
France
September 8th 1916
“Dear Mrs. Smith – I write to express my very deepest sympathy in your great loss. I had intended writing sooner, but have not had the opportunity. I was very sorry indeed when the news reached me that Willie had been killed. I had been looking forward to the time when all we Lothersdale lads would get home together safely and sound. If it is any consolation to you, and I think it will be, Willie died a noble death, fighting for his King and Country. We here are all very sorry for what has happened to him, but we are still proud of him. I saw Francis [Francis John Kay] and Alvin [Alvin Smith] the other night and together we agreed to send to you our deepest sympathy. I have seen Tommy (deceased’s brother) a few times since we came out of the trenches and he is looking fairly well under the circumstances. Of course, he feels his loss very much, but is taking it very bravely so I hope you will. It is very hard indeed, but God knows and sees further than we can and does things for the best. We don’t know what the future has in store for us here, but we are asking God to bring us safely home and I have faith that He will do so. With very deepest sympathy.
“I remain, very sincerely yours, GEO. ELVEY RIDDIOUGH”
30 November 1917
LOTHERSDALE
Private Francis Kay arrived home on Thursday week on fourteen days’ leave from the Front. Private Kay, who was one of the first batch of Volunteers to leave the village at the outbreak of hostilities, has been at the Front about 2½ years. This is his second furlough since he left England.
10 May 1918
Private F. Kay, Lothersdale
A telegram has been received stating that Private Francis Kay, West Riding Regiment, has been killed. He was a native of Lothersdale, and was the first to join up from that village.
10 May 1918
Private F. J. Kay, Skipton
Private Francis John Kay, West Riding Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Kay, Lascelles Hall, Skipton, was, we regret to say, killed in action on April 23rd. He was 25 years of age, and enlisted soon after the war broke out, going to France in April 1915. Formerly he was in the employ of Mr. Wm. Spencer, of Lothersdale, as a stonebreaker.
17 May 1918
Private F. J. Kay, Lothersdale
We regret the death in France of Private Francis John Kay of the West Riding Regiment, formerly of Lothersdale, at the age of 25 years, to which we briefly referred in our last week’s issue. From a letter received from one of his comrades, it seems that whilst on a short respite behind the firing lines volunteers were invited for the laying of some electric wires, Private Kay, along with others, offering themselves for the task. Through some misfortune he (Private Kay) inadvertently came into contact with a ‘live’ wire, which caused his tragic end. Deceased enlisted on the outbreak of hostilities, along with four other Lothersdale lads (the first volunteers from the village), and was drafted into France in June 1915, where, although he has been in several engagements, he hitherto escaped without a scratch. Previous to the war he was employed as a stone-breaker by Messrs. P. W. Spencer at Raygill Limestone Quarries, Lothersdale, and was well-known and respected by all who knew him. He was a member of the Bethel Chapel Choir, a member of the Village Club, and a keen contestant in all the village sports. His death is keenly felt by all, and their sympathy is with his father, who resides in Skipton, and his sisters, four of whom reside in Lothersdale. A service to the memory of the above and Private Smith (who was killed in France the week before Private Kay, a report of whose death was published in these columns two weeks ago) was held on Whit Sunday in the Bethel Chapel.
24 May 1918
LOTHERSDALE – In Memoriam
A very impressive service in memory of Private F.J. Kay and Private T.W. Smith (reports of whose death in France have been published in previous issues) was held on Sunday afternoon last in the Bethel Chapel, the officiating minister being the Rev. F.H.J. Thornton, of Crosshills. Hymns appropriate to the occasion were sung, and the choir, conducted by Mr. C.J. Smith, sang ‘Yea though I walk.’ At the close of the service Mr. E. Pickles, the organist, played the ‘Dead march.’
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
02 October 1914
LOTHERSDALE – RECRUITS FOR THE TERRITORIALS
There was quite a flutter of excitement in the village when last Tuesday evening six Lothersdale young men left the village by motor car for Skipton, to volunteer their services in the 6th Battalion Reserve Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Territorials. They left amid the cheers and good wishes of the villagers. They were passed by the doctor and accepted the following day. Their names are F. Kay, S. Conyers, H. Wilkinson, D. Wilson, G.E. Riddiough, and A.A. Riddiough.
30 November 1917
LOTHERSDALE
HOME ON LEAVE – Pte. Francis Kay arrived home on Thursday evening last on 14 days’ leave from the front. Pte. Kay, who was one of the first batch of volunteers to leave the village at the outbreak of hostilities, has been at the front about 2½ years. This is his second furlough since he left England.
10 May 1918
KAY – Killed in action April 23rd, Pte. F.J. Kay, West Riding Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Kay, of Lascelles Hall, Skipton, aged 25.
10 May 1918
CRAVEN AND THE WAR
Private F.J. Kay Killed
Pte. Francis John Kay, of the West Riding Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Kay, of Lascelles Hall, Skipton, was killed in action on April 23rd. Pte. Kay, who is 25 years of age, enlisted soon after the outbreak of war, and went out to France in April, 1915. He was formerly employed as a stone-breaker, by Mr. Wm. Spencer, of Lothersdale.
17 May 1918
CRAVEN AND THE WAR
Former Lothersdale Soldier Killed
We sincerely regret the death in France of Pte. Francis John Kay, of the West Riding Regiment, formerly of Lothersdale, at the age of 25 years, to which we briefly referred in our last week’s issue. It transpires from a letter received from his relatives from one of his comrades, that whilst on a short respite behind the firing line, volunteers were invited for the laying of some electric wires, Pte. Kay, along with others, offering themselves for the task. Through some misfortune he (Pte. Kay) inadvertently came into contact with a ‘live’ wire, which caused his tragic end. Deceased, who enlisted on the outbreak of hostilities, along with four other Lothersdale lads – the first five volunteers from this village – was drafted into France in June, 1915, where, although he had been in several engagements, had hitherto escaped without a scratch. Previous to the war he was employed as a stone-breaker by Messrs. P.W. Spencer at Raygill Limestone Quarries, Lothersdale, and was well-known and respected by all who knew him. Of a very genial disposition, he was a member of the Bethel Chapel choir, a member of the Village Club, and a keen contestant in all the village sports. His death is keenly felt by all in the village, and their sympathy is with his father, who resides in Skipton, and his sisters, four of whom reside in Lothersdale. A service in memory of the above and Pte. Smith – who was killed in France the week before Pte. Kay, a report of whose death was published in these columns two weeks ago – will be held on Whit-Sunday in the Bethel Chapel.
24 May 1918
KAY – The sisters and fiancée of Pte. F.J. Kay wish to thank all relatives and friends for their kind expressions of sympathy in their sad bereavement.
We miss him, fair flower, from our own fireside,
Cut down in the midst of his bloom;
Thy sweet smile and mirth abides with us still,
Though he dwells with his mother above.
– From his Sisters and Alice, Lothersdale.
24 May 1918
LOTHERSDALE
MEMORIAL SERVICE – A very impressive service in memory of Pte. F.J. Kay and Pte. T.W. Smith, reports of whose deaths in France have been published in previous issues of the ‘Pioneer,’ was held on Sunday afternoon last in the Bethel Chapel, the officiating minister being Rev. F.H.J. Thornton., of Crosshills. Hymns appropriate to the occasion were sung and the choir, under the conductorship of Mr. C.J. Smith, ably rendered the anthem ‘Yea, though I walk,’ and at the close of the service Mr. E. Pickles (organist) played the ‘Dead March’ in ‘Saul.’
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